Ryttmästare

Ryttmästare (from the German word Rittmeister) was a military rank in the Swedish cavalry in the Swedish Army. The rank corresponded to the rank of captain in other service branches. The rank was abolished in 1972.

History
The military rank of ryttmästare as a designation for the rank of captain had been used since the 16th century. The name was then used for the commander of a company of riders (several of them were usually part of a squadron). Ryttmästare later became squadron commander. Since the 17th century it was the title for a company officer of the highest rank in the Swedish cavalry with position between lieutenant and major (corresponding to the rank of captain in other branches). A 1967 inquiry (Tjänsteställningsutredningen 1967) considered that the position of ryttmästare as a designation for the rank of captain in the cavalry should be retained as long as the cavalry remained as a service branch in the organization. The rank was abolished after a reform in 1972 (Tjänsteställningsreformen 1972).